Barcelona likely to return to Asia for the 2026 pre-season tour – report | OneFootball

According to Mundo Deportivo, FC Barcelona are expected to return to Asia for the pre-season tour next summer, after the club spent the last three pre-seasons in the United States.

While a final decision is still pending, all signs point to a return to the Asian continent, where they are currently on tour.

A Busy summer in the USA a major reason

As per the report, the main reason for Barcelona to avoid the USA next summer is the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Similar to this year, when the Club World Cup took place in North America and made a US tour unfeasible due to commercial limitations, the 2026 tournament is expected to have a similar impact.

With major football investors having already spent heavily on the World Cup, there would be little financial room left for a Barcelona tour in the US – which typically generates around €15 million in revenue.

As a result, the Blaugrana are once again turning their focus to Asia, a key strategic market.

A successful tour so far

Barcelona are very happy with their trip to Asia. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)

Despite initial controversy at the start of this summer’s Asian tour, including a payment issue that nearly led to the cancellation of the Japan leg, the overall outcome has been viewed positively by Barcelona.

Hansi Flick has grown increasingly satisfied with the team’s performance and commitment, as well as the club’s media coverage. The tour has ultimately been a success, including strong attendance at stadiums.

From a media perspective, the tour has also delivered positive results. Joan Laporta gave interviews to major communication agencies, both regional and global, boosting the club’s visibility.

Additionally, the FC Seoul vs Barça match broadcast on YouTube drew more than 2.1 million unique users and over 14 million total views.

In terms of global brand exposure, the Japanese and South Korean leg of the tour has been a major success, reinforcing the club’s image and coinciding with the strong sporting performance delivered by Flick and his team.

As such, if nothing changes, there is a strong likelihood that Barcelona will return to Asia again next summer.